1/6/22: NP Appointment

Today I had my yearly follow-up with an NP in the Breast Center. 

A few weeks ago, checking my appointments online, I noticed that this appointment had been switched from my usual NP to a different one. Turns out, my old NP is on maternity leave! Yay for her! I love babies. Also, when she returns, she'll be working only at the main hospital in the city. Not surprisingly, I'm a little sad about the change, because of that "everyone is moving on but I'm still here" feeling. 

This was my first time meeting this new NP, and I like her. I was impressed by how thoroughly she read my file before my appointment. She knew all about my current medications and the side effects I reported at my last oncology appointment. 

I was really happy to hear her say that my chest looks "fantastic". I mean, I'm sure she would never say anything negative, but she sees a lot of surgery results and she could have just said nothing, right? Or, who knows, maybe she is very good at her job and knows how valuable it is for patients to be reassured. But I have seen photos of both really great and really poor results, and I think mine are in the A- range. Like my old NP, she did point out the little "dog ears" at the outside edge of each incision, and reminded me that I could get them removed if I want. It might even be an office procedure, not a real surgery, but at least right now, I don't feel any urge to get it done.

She asked how I felt about not getting reconstruction. Some people do choose to reconstruct later, but I said I am really satisfied with my decision, I don't regret it at all. I can't say I love being flat, and I'm still struggling with clothes, but I never wish I had gotten reconstruction. Being flat just feels, to me, like the natural consequence of having had a double mastectomy. She was generally supportive and reminded me that I could wear prosthetic inserts if it helps with the clothing dilemma. (I literally had forgotten I had that option!) 

I did not feel rushed at all during the appointment, and was a bit surprised to realize, after it was over, that it was only 15 minutes total. 

My next appointment will be in another year.  She said I'll have yearly follow-ups for 5 years after diagnosis, so I guess a couple more years. I didn't ask what happens after 5 years; right now I don't think I'm ready to hear that they'll just cut me loose. She confirmed that I'll continue to only get manual breast exams, and that imaging will only be ordered if necessary.